Yesterday was not a good day for the Nicest Yugo in the World. Fully 90% of you felt its $7,999 asking price would be better spent on lobbyists to promote legislation banning Malcom Bricklin from starting any more car companies. Someone else who lent his name to an automotive venture - but with greater success - was racer and entrepreneur Steve Saleen, and today we're going to take a look at his pinnacle achievement.

Irvine California is no stranger to hyper-fast machinery, considering its sprawl of suburban neighborhoods abuts what once was the El Toro Marine base- home to the Marines West Coast Fighter Squadron. So it was natural for Steve Saleen, when he first began making mustangs more muscular, to base his operations there. In addition to the ‘Stangs, Steve applied his magic touch - and more Saleen badges than you could shake a stick shift at - to F150s, Foci and a herd other FoMoCo products. But those were all tuned versions of somebody else's vehicles. What we have today is the culmination of everything Saleen had learned about making cars go faster, handle better and look cooler - the Saleen S7.

This pearl white example is claimed the last built before Steve sold his company and the rights to his last name. Production number 78 is one of a total run of a mere 21 twin-turbo street cars. That makes it more rare than an Enzo, more so than a Veyron. At that it is tickling at the production numbers of Spyker- or Aston Martin in 1979.

This car comes with the ‘Performance Option' which includes a grand total of 850 bhp out of its Ford-based aluminum 427. That's good for a claimed 245 mph top speed as well as sub-four second runs from the In-N-Out drive thru window to freeway speeds when Tony Stark gets the munchies.

What does such performance cost? Well, in this instance $375,000 will plop you down into the leather driver's seat, and behind that fat wheel. That buys you gull-wing doors, enough carbon fiber that you'll be regular for a year, and that thunder god that lives in the back, and under the mating-aliens intake manifolds.

Your options, again, are pretty limited, as few of these locomotives come on the market with much frequency. And another thing to consider is the beating that exotic car sales have taken in the economic downturn. A super car of this desirability and exclusivity would normally appreciate in value, but this one is demanding a mere 65% of its $585,000 base price when new, only 4 years ago. If you've got the cash, this is the time to spring for your garage's new fall wardrobe, and nothing accessorizes better than an S7 in white.

So, with all that going for it, do you think plunking down $375,000 for this American-do super car will make your accountant do zero to crapped-pants in under four seconds? Or, does that price make you wonder why your accountant hasn't recommended this investment earlier?

You decide!

duPont Registry or go here if the ad disappears.

Help me out with NPOCP. Click here to send a me a tip, and remember to include your commenter handle.

Well, actually, all we've got is the first chapter. The following film is the first chapter in a film project put together by super car fan-boy and big-time marketing man Bradley Farrell. You'll be able to follow along with the whole story of the new Stile Bertone super car yourself at their website — Inside Project M. Or, just watch the chapter here when they become available.

UPDATE: We're also told they're on twitter here. Have we mentioned we're on Twitter here — or alternatively, one of us is here.

Some may not appreciate the $149,995 price tag, but for a super rare Shelby (just 100 examples) good for 750 HP with a fiberglass full-tilt front end, no rear seats and a quasi-drag setup this is one of the meanest street-legal vehicles to come with a warranty. Not to mention, it looks insane.

Stick around for the joke at the end, with Shelby once again reliving one of the best moments in American automotive racing history.

[Source: StreetFire]

Named for the Top Fuel drag racer, Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, who drove for Shelby in 1968, the Shelby GT500 Super Snake Prudhomme Edition features a whole listed of custom modifications. Aside from the 750 horsepower (800 on race gas) Kenne Bell-supercharged 5.4-liter V8, the car features a fiberglass full-tilt front end, Shelby rear drag wing, eight-point roll cage, six-piston front brakes, rear seat delete, coilover springs and Bogart wheels all in a street legal package you can purchase for $149,995. If that seems a bit high for you, Shelby will allow you to bring your previously purchased GT500 in and they'll do the retrofit for a much lower price of $99,995. Production will be set at a very limited 100 examples...oh and if you didn't catch it before, it's STREET LEGAL.

Shelby Press Release:

Shelby Automobiles, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI.PK) has returned to drag racing with a limited edition Prudhomme Edition Super Snake package for the Shelby GT500 Mustang. Carroll Shelby and Don "The Snake" Prudhomme unveiled the program during a private reception at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, Calif. The drag racing inspired 800 horsepower post title package was a collaboration between Shelby Autos and Don Prudhomme, who successfully drove a top fuel car for Carroll Shelby in the 1968 NHRA season.

Each year, the Automobile Club of Southern California holds a dinner to support the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum on the first night of the Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals. In honor of the fortieth anniversary of the first race that Mr. Prudhomme drove for Carroll Shelby, the Shelby Autos team unveiled the new drag racing package that they developed together over the past year.

"Don is an exceptional drag racer and I'm proud that he drove my first Top Fuel car in 1968," noted Carroll Shelby. "By leveraging Don's experience, we turned a really good car into a great drag racer that will beat up on the MOPAR and bow tie brigade right out of the box."

The program is a post-title package for 2007-2010 Ford Shelby GT500 cars already in the hands of owners. To create the Prudhomme Edition Super Snake, Shelby Autos pumps up the 5.4L supercharged engine to produce 800 hp on race fuel or 750 hp on 93 octane pump gas. The Shelby includes a Kenne Belle modified air intake sticking out of the hood in the tilt front end, a five-point Impact safety harness and a Borla side exhaust system. A front and rear adjustable BMR racing suspension and drag tires are included to improve traction during launches; optional street tires are available. For a more aggressive stance and improved aerodynamics, side lower rockers are incorporated. Only 100 total packages at $100,000 (not including car) will be offered.

"Working with Don on this project was a great experience for our design team," noted Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles. "Carroll and Don earned their stripes in competition over the years, so we had to build a car that would continue their racing domination. Our Prudhomme Edition GT500 Super Snake builds on that legacy and gives Shelby enthusiasts today a way to rule the quarter mile in their town."

By the mid-1960s, Carroll Shelby and Don Prudhomme were both at the top of their respective games. Prudhomme was one of the winningest Top Fuel drag racers in the country. Shelby was a racer-turned-builder of Cobras, GT40s and Mustangs who won endurance and road racing championships worldwide. His company even offered drag racing packages for privateers to compete in their Cobra or Shelby Mustang on the strip.

"The Snake" and the Cobra's creator teamed in 1968 for an NHRA ride. Prudhomme's Ford Cammer-powered rail made its debut as "Shelby's Super Snake at the 1968 Winternationals. He won the race and drove the rest of the season under the Shelby banner.

Don "The Snake" Prudhomme's successful racing career included winning the NHRA funny car championship four times. He was the first funny car driver to exceed 250 mph. In 1994, he began managing his own racing team, which won the Top Fuel championship in 2002 and 2003. Prudhomme was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1991 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2000.

"It's been a great opportunity to work with Carroll and the Shelby Autos team on this amazing program," added Prudhomme. "I'm honored that Carroll gave me this honor to build a car that's true to his legacy and my efforts to move them across the finish line first. The car can be tuned to deliver over 800 horsepower on race gas, which should pretty fast. It's a well sorted out package that is capable of dusting the competition in the Shelby way."

The Prudhomme Edition Shelby GT500 Super Snake is intended to be truly a road and track car.

"The thing I really think is cool about this car is that you can drive it both on the track and on the street," added Prudhomme. "It reminds me of how drag racing used to be back in the day when we would drive our cars to the drag strip, race them, and drive them home at the end of the day. That's maybe the neatest thing about this car."

[via autoblog]

Don’t worry, the Buick Grand National is still present, along with Vin Diesel and plenty of explosions. We’re guessing they added the babe-on-babe to tie up the prepubescent audience even better.

Hit our Super Bowl Ad Watch tag page for the rest of tonight’s big commercials from the big game!

According to our sources, this was the result of an F-350 Super Duty minding his own business, driving along at 50 MPH on a dark night, who came across a darkly-colored horse crossing the road. The damage is pretty extensive with horse bits all over in what remains of the truck. What a mess. Horse sashimi anyone?

F-SERIES SUPER DUTY ADDS NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND CABELA’S EDITION PICKUPS
Ford and Harley-Davidson team up again for a new Harley-Davidson F-450, the "Big Hog Daddy" of the road.

* Ford F-Series Super Duty, America's most capable work truck, adds new Harley-Davidson™ and Cabela's edition pickups and more standard capability for 2009 including an integrated trailer brake controller and trailer tow mirrors on select models.

* Ford Work Solutions is a collection of industry-first, affordable technologies available on 2009 F-Series Super Duty XL, XLT and FX4 trucks that will provide customers connectivity, flexibility and security to better run key aspects of their business – from their Ford Truck, even on the job site.

* New 'Built Ford Tough' factory-applied spray-in bedliner, available on 2009 F-Series Super Duty pickups, delivers exceptional weather resistance and protection against gouging, scratching, cracking and chipping.

DALLAS, Texas, Sept. 25, 2008 – The 2009 F-Series Super Duty line of trucks, the industry's most capable full-size heavy-duty work trucks, come equipped with even more capability, thanks to new standard features and offers even more choice with two new packages – a Cabela's FX4 for the outdoor enthusiast and for the first time, a Harley-Davidson™ F-450 pickup.

All four Super Duty trim levels, XL, XLT, FX4, and Lariat, come with new standard features. The XL, the no frills workhorse version, now comes standard with air conditioning, Securilock, and manual trailer tow mirrors. The XLT, a step up from the XL, now has power heated trailer tow mirrors, privacy glass, integrated trailer brake controller, remote keyless entry and Securilock as standard features.

For 2009 the FX4 adds standard PowerScope™ integrated power-fold, power-telescoping mirrors, power seats, privacy glass, integrated trailer brake controller, captain's chairs, and SIRIUS satellite radio. The most luxurious of the Super Duty line-up is the Lariat. The Lariat adds all of the new FX4 standard content as well as the reverse camera system, a power sliding rear window, heated seats, molded running boards, and SYNC, Ford's industry-exclusive, voice-activated hands-free communications and entertainment system.

New Smart Technolgies

Ford is further expanding its 'smart' features for truck customers by making new technologies that make getting staying connected and getting the job done easier.

* SYNC is Ford's industry-exclusive, voice-activated hands-free communications and entertainment system that fully integrates mobile phones and most media players into the vehicle using Bluetooth technology and USB connectivity.

* Voice-Activated Navigation System with SIRIUS Travel Link™ offers a host of convenient features including more than 150 hours of music storage. Users can browse the music juke box via touch-screen or by using voice recognition. The system also integrates the climate control and SIRIUS satellite radio into one easy-to-use, smudge-resistant, 8-inch touch-screen display.

* Ford Work Solutions, a collection of industry-exclusive technologies for F-Series trucks and commercial E-Series vans will help make business owners more productive and successful. Four industry-exclusive innovations include:

o An in-dash computer developed with Magneti Marelli and powered by Microsoft Auto that provides full high-speed Internet access via the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network and navigation by Garmin. It's the first broadband-capable in-dash computer in production and features available wireless accessories including a mouse and printer. This system allows customers to print invoices and access documents stored on their home or office computer networks – right on the job site.

o Tool Link, a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset tracking system developed with DEWALT, the industry leader in professional power tools, and ThingMagic, the industry expert on embedded RFID technology. This enables customers to maintain a detailed real-time inventory of the tools or equipment stored in the vehicle.

o Crew Chief, a fleet telematics and diagnostics system, which allows small fleet owners to efficiently manage their vehicles, quickly dispatch workers to job sites and keep detailed vehicle maintenance records.

o Cable Lock security system developed in partnership with Master Lock®, the industry-leading lock manufacturer, to secure large tools or equipment in the cargo area of E-Series vans and wagons.

All four Ford Work Solutions technologies also will be available this fall on the new 2009 Ford F-150 XL, STX, XLT and FX4 trucks and E-Series vans. Transit Connect vans join the lineup in mid-2009.

Cabela's FX4

Ford is expanding its relationship with Cabela's, the world's largest outdoor outfitter, by offering a new Cabela's FX4 package for 2009. According to customer data, seventy-six percent of F-Series buyers hunt and fish and a key way for Ford to connect with those outdoor enthusiasts is as the official truck of Cabela's for the last X years with products prominently placed at stores nationwide and featured in Cabela's publications and TV programming. The Cabela's FX4 package features a unique two-tone paint scheme in five colors: Ebony, Oxford White, Forest Green Metallic, Royal Red Metallic and Silver Metallic with Sterling Grey Metallic lower body accents, running boards and wheel lip moldings. Custom mud flaps and unique Cabela's badging finish off the exterior.

The interior features standard cloth seats with the Cabela's logo or available Aniline leather seats with a unique two-tone embossed grain pattern. The center stack is finished with a dark Paldeo wood appliqué. All weather floor mats also wear the Cabela's logo. And for the avid outdoor enthusiast, additional lockable storage in the front console and underneath the rear seats is perfect for keeping equipment secure and out of sight.

Harley-Davidson™ F-450

Ford and Harley-Davidson team up again for a new Harley-Davidson™ F-450, the "Big Hog Daddy" of the road. As with the still available F-250/350 SRW models, each individually numbered Harley-Davidson™ F-450 features a unique blue-flame paint scheme that starts at the side vents and runs down to the box side of the truck. The flame design scheme is carried through to the interior gauges in the instrument panel. The custom perforated black leather wrapped seats, door panels and center console cover reveal blue leather underneath giving the same blue-flame effect as the exterior. Harley-Davidson™ badges are present on the fenders and tailgate, along with "Harley-Davidson" script located on the box side.

Tough Bed

Ford is offering Tough Bed, a unique, military-grade, factory-installed, spray-in bed liner for the first time on the 2009 F-Series Super Duty.
"Tough Bed is a smart solution for Ford Super Duty customers who want to better protect their most important asset – the pickup box," said Tom Aubrey, Ford F-Series Super Duty marketing manager. "Like the entire truck, Tough Bed stands up to the most stringent durability standards including those required by the U.S. Military – that definitely makes it 'Built Ford Tough.'."

According to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), installation of spray-in bedliners grew from 27 percent in 2004 to nearly 34 percent of all pickup trucks in 2006, and will continue to grow at a steady rate to nearly 40 percent in 2008.

Developed in partnership with PPG Industries, Tough Bed exceeds the standards of today's typical aftermarket spray-in bedliner solutions. This military-grade coating has been through the government's toughest blast mitigation testing to determine whether the material can with stand the force of a bomb blast. It has performed equal to or better than other protective coating systems at one-third the thickness.

The polyol-based elastomeric film and isocyanate hardener are applied to the pickup box by a precision, high-pressure, automated sprayer to ensure one smooth, even coat at a very low film thickness unlike the traditional hand-spray application of aftermarket bed liners.

The finer application ensures that the bedliner materials won't run or sag on the inside walls of the box in addition minimizing unnecessary weight. Tough Bed does not compromise Super Duty's class-leading cargo capacity or the installation of aftermarket assets such as tool boxes, tonneau covers and truck caps. The uniformly textured surface also helps minimize load slippage while delivering an exceptionally clean appearance.

The special bedliner material formula is immune to the effects of ultraviolet radiation and will not fade or chalk. It also protects against physical damage to the pickup box such as gouging, scratching, cracking and chipping. It is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile factory limited warranty.
All F-Series Super Duty models are built at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Ky.

[Ford]

The Drag Package Challengers are also stripped down and fitted with lightweight components like a composite lift-off style hood, which also comes in handy if you want to disturb the peace in your neighborhood. Of course, the cars won't be street legal, so if you want to cruise Woodward, you'll be asking for trouble.

Center Line, Mich., Jul 13, 2008 - Mopar® is bringing the iconic Dodge Challenger muscle car to National Hot Road Association (NHRA) drag-racing competition. Mopar revealed two Dodge Challenger Drag Race Package Cars at the 29th Annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals today before thrilled fans at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo. Mopar Mile-High Nationals is the longest-running NHRA sponsorship.

"Big Daddy" Don Garlits and Judy "Miss Mighty Mopar" Lilly were behind the wheels for their inaugural track run. Garlits drove the car featuring the Stone White paint scheme. Lilly was behind the wheel of the "Mopar Liquid Metal" prototype. NHRA named Garlits the #1 driver of the Top 50 drivers from its first 50 years. His victories and accomplishments are virtually unmatched in drag-racing history. "Miss Mighty Mopar" is one of the female pioneers in drag racing. Spending 12 years on the NHRA circuit, Lilly is the only female driver to win two NHRA national events in one year.

Mopar built the first two Challenger Drag Race Package Cars for development and testing for its new Challenger Package Car program. Based on the Challenger SRT8®, the prototypes were finished in Stock Eliminator configuration. They ran successfully in June 2008 as proof-of-concept and for NHRA certification. Mopar dropped approximately 1,000 lbs. off the production Challenger SRT8 by eliminating major production components and systems. To accentuate the weight savings, they also feature added composite, polycarbonate and lightweight components designed for drag racing that will be part of the new Package Car program.

The engine was repositioned to improve driveline angle and weight distribution. The 116-inch wheelbase was shortened by ½ inch. They also feature a front cradle with bolt-in crossmember and solid engine mounts.

"Today is a great day for Mopar, Dodge, SRT, drag racers and motorsports enthusiasts everywhere. Not made for the streets, our drag-race-only Challengers will be running soon in NHRA competition—the best grassroots racing series in the world," said Sunil Lahoti, Mopar Marketing and Brand Manager, Chrysler LLC. "And who better to drive our new Challenger Package Cars on their inaugural track run than 'Big Daddy' and 'Miss Mighty Mopar'—the greatest drag racer of all time and a female pioneer of the sport."

New Dodge Challenger Drag Race Package Car Program by Mopar
The first drag-race, factory-prepped package cars built in 40 years, the new Challenger Drag Race Package Car by Mopar builds on the heritage of the limited-edition 1968 HEMI®-powered Package Cars. Those '68 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas solidified the Mopar brand as a quarter-mile force.

Mopar will build a minimum of 100 Challenger Drag Race Package Cars to meet NHRA requirements. Based on the production Dodge Challenger SRT8, Mopar's modern factory-prepped Challenger Drag Race Package Car will begin as a special Body-in-White (BIW) from Chrysler's Brampton, Ontario, Canada, assembly plant. The body sealer, sound deadener and undercoat will be eliminated. To reduce vehicle weight, major production component and systems will also be eliminated including: windshield wiper assembly, complete HVAC system, all airbag components, rear seats, power steering system, exhaust system and underbody heat shields, cross-car and side impact door beams, rear bumper beam and rear deck lid spoiler.

The drag racer has three engine options—6.1-liter or 5.7-liter HEMI or 5.9-liter Magnum® Wedge—as well as manual or automatic transmission.

A build book/owner's manual will be provided to document the modifications made to the Challenger SRT8 as well as provide recommendations to finish the Package Car for Stock Eliminator competition. To accentuate weight savings, there are unique drag-race components in the Package Car program including: composite lift-off hood with functional scoop, Viper-style front seats, polycarbonate door windows, lightweight cooling module with electric fan, manual rack and pinion steering, special cable-operated deck lid release, special lightweight front brake assembly and special cable-operated throttle linkage and pedal assembly.

The Challenger Drag Race Package Car will be eligible to run in three Eliminator categories—Comp, Super Stock and Stock—and potentially 40 classes.

Depending upon the configuration selected, the U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the Challenger Drag Race Package Car program will range from the low to mid $30s. Each car will carry an identification plate with sequential serial number.

The Challenger Drag Race Package Car will be available for order in late August to early September. A toll-free number will be designated for ordering. Details will be posted on www.mopar.com.

Now in its fifth decade, NHRA is the world's largest motorsports sanctioning body with 80,000 members, 140 member tracks, more than 35,000 licensed competitors and more than 5,000 member-track events. NHRA is second only to NASCAR in terms of fan attendance.

70 Years of Mopar
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.

Originally used in the 1920s, Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It was also widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s—the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth "package cars" equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of "Special Parts" for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.

Today, Chrysler LLC's Global Service & Parts division is responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of nearly 250,000 authentic Mopar replacement parts, components, restoration parts, accessories and performance parts for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles sold around the world. To assure quality, reliability and durability, all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler engineering standards.

The Korean automaker's two new 30-sec spots take dead aim at German (rival?) automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz and a tiny little swipe at Lexus (also rival?). Smugly touting their new 375hp V8, Hyundai is obviously trying to appeal to a more demanding clientèle and taking a little bit of an understated approach to the whole glitz-and-glam we normally expect from big budget big game ads. We think there will be quite a few people second-guessing their luxo-badge-snobbery come Sunday. And hey, does it seem like Hyundai's finally picked a front grille for the Genesis?

Ford has little competition in the Super Duty realm. Lined up against competing trucks from Dodge and Chevrolet, the Ford's internals are undeniably beefier. With substantially larger water pumps, radiators, engine mounts and bolts, there's no doubt the Ford is tougher. While the metal bits make up the Super Duty's bones and guts, Ford also blasts its largest full-size rig with hardcore development testing on Silver Creek, a quarter-mile straight shot on Ford's proving grounds, meant to simulate a lifetime of hitting giant pot holes, rocks and bumps most drivers hit only once every few thousand miles.

The directions for driving across Silver Creek are simple: hold the wheel with a firm, but relaxed grip and keep the speed at a steady 20 mph. The execution is much more difficult. From the first bump, your right foot is thrown into a struggle to find the gas pedal, while not accidentally smashing it to the floor. The steering wheel is prone to doing whatever the hell it wants, so when we reach the end of the course (rather than allowing the bumps to throw the truck off the road) it's tempting to call it a miracle. Reliving the violence of the drive in your head has shock absorbers busting through their mounts and suspension bits snapping in half, yet the Super Duty doesn't even show signs of a rattle after passing down Silver Creek. In fact the course is so intense Ford test drivers are limited in how often they can drive it due to medical concerns. During development, a single truck must survive the drive across Silver Creek more than 600 times before sign-off.

Off-road, the Super Duty performs well. After several hours of rain that have turned the course into peanut butter, the single-axle F-350 has no problem muscling through mud pits and crater-ridden trails. Its length is certainly a burden, making it far less nimble than any real off-roading machine. Still, it did well approaching steep hills and through short dips, never bottoming out.

We also took an F-450 Super Duty equipped with dualies over a hilly road course pulling a trailer 4,000 pounds shy of its 24,000-pound towing capacity. With Tow/Haul mode engaged, the Ford hangs onto revs longer and downshifts earlier when you put on the brakes to help slow things down. With the 6.4-liter diesel making 650 pound-feet of torque at peak, you're getting serious twist no matter where the tach needle points. Despite the Ford's five-speed Torqshift automatic downshifting at such aggressive points while towing 10 tons, we swear we could hear "Smooth Operator" playing somewhere.

It's a blessing we're not on public roads, since nearly all the journalists in attendance have casually dismissed the lane lines while towing that 40-foot trailer. With the longest Super Duty models stretching nearly 22 feet, you have to start thinking about navigating rather than driving. Turns should be planned well in advance and you'll want to run a few geometry calculations through your head before attempting to park between cars. Ford has made some efforts to make navigating the Super Duty a bit less of a burden. The screen for the optional back-up camera appears in the rearview mirror when you shift into reverse. While the screen is much smaller than the traditional screen in the nav system, Ford's camera includes a dotted line pointing where your truck is headed. Additionally, colored brackets along the edge of the screen help you to gauge how far you are from a wall, your trailer hitch, or Fido. Available power-scoping mirrors slide away from the truck for towing and can be folded in against the truck when pulling into a garage using a simple knob.

On F-350 dualies, buyers can now check a box for the "Fat Boy" option (actually, the sheet will read more like "widetrack monobeam front suspension and extended axle"). The longer front axle cuts the turning radius down from a hulking 56 feet to a slightly-less-hulking and class-leading 50 feet. Step into a Fat Boy-equipped F-350 and crank the wheel as far as it'll go. From the cabin, cones marking the outside of the turning circle disappear from sight in line with the center of the truck, convincing you you're about to send them to a second, flatter life. It's a surprise to get out of the truck and see all of the cones still standing. The Fat Boy option also makes the wheel wells taller and deeper, while adding more dimension to the front fender flares, giving an even tougher look to Ford's ultra-tough truck.

The toughness of the Super Duty is apparent in almost every challenge you can throw at it, from off-roading to towing to car-eating potholes. If you need to haul something or just want a vehicle that you can relentlessly abuse, the Super Duty has your number: $45,000 fully loaded.

For 2008, the brand that even the General's vice-chairman wonders whether they got to in time, is going retro. The company's reintroducing the "Super" designation from the early 1950s. "Super," not to be confused with its hetero-life-mate, "Duper" was the umm...actually we're not sure what it used to be...as near as we can remember and as near as we can tell from the releases, Buick's "Super designation was:

"The name Super, evoking the glamour and elegance of rail travel of the late '30s, harks back to a time when America was on the upswing, having weathered the trials of the Great Depression, but had not seen the horrors of a second world war that was on the horizon."

BUICK LACROSSE SEDAN GETS NEW FACE OF BUICK AND MORE EQUIPMENT STANDARD

NEW YORK - Buick will freshen its 2008 LaCrosse line with the new face of Buick - a front-end design inspired by the Velite convertible concept - and an elevated list of standard equipment across all LaCrosse models.

Like the recently introduced Buick Enclave luxury crossover and Super models, the 2008 LaCrosse features a more distinctive front end. The new design brings the 2008 LaCrosse sedan in line with a common Buick family appearance. The fascia, hood and chrome waterfall grille are new. The 2008 model will also offer four new exterior colors, including: Scarlett Red, Gold Mist Metallic, Dark Mocha Metallic and Dark Slate Metallic.

Inside, the '08 LaCrosse continues to offer a well-equipped, comfortable and quiet interior. More comfort and convenience features are now standard for CX, CXL and CXS models for 2008. The LaCrosse CX, for example, is a richer entry-level car, adding a leather-wrapped steering wheel, theft deterrent system, illuminated vanity mirrors, driver information center personalization and more. All trim levels now have a chrome exterior appearance package, remote starting, XM Satellite Radio, telescoping steering wheel column, redundant steering wheel controls and dual-zone climate control as added standard equipment.

"LaCrosse really started the evolution to the new Buick you see today," said Buick General Manager Steve Shannon. "It introduced a new direction for Buick cars with great design, performance and fuel economy with a premium and quiet interior. Indeed, LaCrosse set the foundation for the new Buick."

The LaCrosse line now offers three powertrains. The CX and CXL trims are powered by the 3.8L V-6, now in Series III form. With more than 25 million sold, it is one of the most proven and reliable engines in the industry. Rated at 200 horsepower (149 kW), the 3.8L features electronic throttle control to improve engine response and optimize fuel efficiency, along with upgrades for quiet operation.

The performance-oriented LaCrosse CXS has a standard 3.6L V-6 with variable valve timing that delivers 240 horsepower (179 kW). The premium, all-aluminum engine features dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. Its fully variable intake and exhaust valve timing achieves outstanding flexibility, delivering 90 percent of the engine's peak torque where it is most useful, between 1,500 rpm and 6,000 rpm. The 3.6L VVT delivers a market-leading balance of good specific output, high torque over a broad rpm band, fuel economy and first-rate noise vibration and harshness control.

The recently announced 2008 LaCrosse Super introduces a V-8 engine and portholes to the LaCrosse lineup. With the fuel efficiency of a V-6, the new 300-horsepower (224 kW)* 5.3L small-block V-8 with Active Fuel Management (AFM) technology can propel LaCrosse Super from 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds. GM's AFM engine technology seamlessly switches between four- and eight-cylinder-power to save fuel.

The LaCrosse line is built at GM's Oshawa 2 Assembly, ranked North/South America's top manufacturing facility the last two years, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

The 2008 LaCrosse will arrive in dealer showrooms this summer. Pricing has not been announced.

*Pending SAE certification.

# # #